A growing demand for convenience products is driving the use of flexible packaging, replacing traditional formats such as glass jars and metal cans.

It forecasts the market will grow during 2017-2022 at annual rate of 4.1 per cent to 33.5 million tonnes.

Global consumer flexible packaging consumption amounts to 27.4 million tonnes in 2017 and total flexible packaging sales (consumer and industrial) are valued at $229 billion in 2017 and are forecast to grow to $282.6 billion by 2022.

"Multilayer flexible packaging solutions, including metallised film, are being adopted across many different end-use sectors," he said.

"Retort foods and pharmaceuticals packaging are growing markets, for example for PET-based transparent deposition films, while high-barrier films are used in case-ready and modified atmosphere packaging.

"Growing demand from the major retailers for an extended shelf life, and from consumers for convenience products, are driving sales of barrier packaging films."

Other key trends include the growing use of sustainable packaging based on biodegradable polymers, bio-derived materials and recycled plastics, and downgauging films for cost reduction.

Technology developments are also supporting the growth of flexible packaging.